DWP Defends Pension Credit Age Rule Amid Growing Criticism
The Department for Work and Pensions has firmly defended its current qualifying rules for Pension Credit, even as policy experts and advocacy groups intensify their calls for reform. At the heart of the controversy is a specific eligibility criterion that prevents many older individuals from accessing crucial financial support simply because their partner has not yet reached state pension age.
The Controversial Rule Excluding Mixed-Age Couples
Under current regulations, Pension Credit – which tops up weekly income to £227.10 for single claimants and £346.60 for couples – cannot be claimed by individuals who have reached state pension age if their partner remains below that threshold. This rule affects what are known as "mixed-age couples," where one partner qualifies for pensioner benefits while the other does not.
Morgan Vine, director of policy, grants and influencing at financial support organisation Independent Age, recently presented compelling evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee. She argued forcefully that this policy "is not a good policy and needs to be reversed," highlighting how affected households could be missing out on substantial financial support ranging from £5,000 to £7,000 annually.
Real-World Consequences and Personal Stories
The human impact of this policy was brought into sharp focus through specific case studies shared during the committee hearing. Vine described how Independent Age advisors recently assisted a 79-year-old individual whose 59-year-old partner suffers from long-term health conditions preventing employment. Despite the older partner qualifying by age, the couple remains ineligible for Pension Credit support.
"For a lot of the people we support, they very much feel like they are being penalised for who they love," Vine told MPs, capturing the emotional toll this policy takes on affected households. She emphasised that many older people perceive the rule as fundamentally unfair, particularly when younger partners face health challenges or other barriers to employment.
Timing and Context for Potential Reform
Advocates argue that the current moment presents a particularly opportune time for policy reconsideration. With the state pension age scheduled to increase gradually from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028, more couples will find themselves caught in this eligibility gap for longer periods.
Vine explained the broader context: "This is a good time to reverse it, as we're looking at, in the context of the state pension age rising, the people that we support are going to have to wait even longer, if they are in a mixed age couple."
She proposed shifting the eligibility framework from a "working age household entitlement level" to a "pensioner age household entitlement level," arguing this would provide support to both older individuals and their younger partners who often fall into high-risk demographic groups.
DWP's Firm Defence of Current Policy
In response to mounting criticism, a DWP spokesperson reiterated the department's commitment to supporting pensioners while defending the existing framework. "Supporting pensioners is a top priority and our commitment to the triple lock means millions of older people will see their state pension rise by up to £2,100," the spokesperson stated.
The department emphasised that Pension Credit is specifically designed to assist pensioners who have left the labour market, while working-age individuals have access to different benefits including Universal Credit, which provides employment support. Recent statistics show significant uptake, with 179,455 Pension Credit claims awarded between November 2024 and November 2025 – representing a 36 percent increase compared to the previous year.
Government's Stance and Future Prospects
When previously questioned by the Work and Pensions Committee about the mixed-age couple rule, government ministers provided a clear response: "There are no plans to change or explore the requirement for mixed-age couples to claim Universal Credit, or the conditionality requirements for the younger partner."
The government maintains that working-age partners in mixed-age couples receive equivalent labour market support to other Universal Credit claimants, with any conditionality requirements tailored to individual circumstances. However, critics note that current estimates of how many households are affected by this policy are outdated, making it difficult to assess the full scale of the problem.
As the debate continues, advocacy groups like Independent Age remain determined to push for reform, arguing that changing this rule would represent a "double-win" by supporting both older individuals and their vulnerable younger partners during financially challenging periods.
